Archives for August 2015

We had an AMAZING weekend with Eliza Jane’s first birthday party on Saturday; we had a slew of folks show up and love on her and it was so wonderful!

Today and tomorrow I am planning to share with y’all some of the decorations I did for her first birthday party – the DIY decor! Disclaimer once again: I am not an artist, I am not a decorating professional, I am merely a momma trying to make our baby girl’s first birthday party a memorable one!

I’m going to start in the dining room. I only decorated the one area where the cake and cupcakes would be on display. I put up a little crepe paper curtain on either side of the mirror and added that enormous silver “1” balloon that some of y’all saw me blowing up Friday night on Instagram and FaceBook!

With the letters or symbols, you basically buy this white shell and create your own “look” with whatever you want. Paint, tape, paper, whatever your fancy!! I bought the coordinating book of glitter papers for the inside of the E…unsure of whether or not I would use silver or pink.

I sent both of these pics to a friend who has an eye for things like this and she urged me to go pink :)

So with my little template {included in your kit!}, I traced and cut out my E.

Then I used a hole punch {!!} to punch the holes out, this is where your lights come into play…and the hole punch made it so much easier!

The next step I did was to take a striped washi tape – I purchased a silver/gray diagonal striped tape, to go along the outside of the letter. This was not very easy…the E has a few crevices that were difficult to maneuver with the tape… I got frustrated a time or two and had to keep telling myself to be patient and slow down… For those of you that know me, you may find humor in that. :-D And then pressed in my pink glitter paper.

Probably the hardest part came next {and it really isn’t hard at all} – inserting the lights and the bulbs. Note to you out there who purchase one of these letters, you have to insert the actual bulb caps first from the front side, then the lights through the back.

Finished product

Simply the cutest! It comes with a little battery pack {takes 2 AAA batteries} that tucks into the back of the letter. My mom thought this was adorable.

Making my way down the buffet, next we have the cupcakes with “1” pennant flags

I did NOT do the cupcakes or the smash cake. I originally asked my sweet friend Aimée of Rosie Girl Bakery to make everything since she did for Reynolds’ first birthday and I really wanted to keep some things traditional, but she was in a wedding over the weekend in Nashville, and well, it just didn’t work out. So, I went to the next best place, Silver Spoon Bake Shop, who made the beautiful cookies I used for my sweet friend, Dana’s baby shower back in February.

I emailed Silver Spoon a picture of the pink in the “E” and told them that was the color pink I wanted as the darker pink on her smash cake and the color for the cupcakes. As you can see, I ordered regular sized cupcakes and then mini cupcakes…for those watching their figures {hehe} or for little hands.

Meanwhile, I was making the little pennant flags. When I first sat down to make these about 2 weeks ago, I had in my mind what I was going to do and then I had one of those lightbulb moments where you go, “Wait just a second…I could do this {original plan} OR…I could do this!!” And I told my husband about the plans.

The original plan was to use this paper, the same papers I had used for her smash cake pennant {hold your horses!, it’s coming!}…

But then I felt like this little roll of washi tape was mocking me from the end of the table…hmmm.

Husband said, “Which one is easier?”, when I told him to two ideas I had. Well, the tape, duh. And I had all this tape.

But I decided that I didn’t want to get too crazy, so I stuck with the one that had been mocking me…

I cut little strips of tape and wrapped it around the toothpicks, then cut a “v” to make it look like a pennant.

So here they are…

And then I added the silver glittered “1” stickers I’d purchased. OH! And my mom, the genius that she is, recommended that I use the “I” when I ran out of 1s.

Recap of the cupcakes!

Next is the smash cake and OMGGGGG, did it not turn out so adorable?!!?!?!?!

I posted this pic to Instagram and FB with the caption of “In the words of #RachelZoe, ‘I die.'” I mean, it’s the most.

So to the pennant banner. I saved the one I made for Reynolds’ first birthday {16 months ago…}, here it is…

I gently pulled off the O-N-E from his and re-glued them to the pink and white twine I’d purchased for making Eliza Jane’s banner. I then cut out the two end pennants from that paper I originally was going to use as the cup cake pennants and added them to the twine.

Last but certainly not least is Eliza Jane’s little birthday hat. Which, for those that were at her party, saw that the hat almost got forgotten about!!! We were almost done singing the “Happy Birthday…” song when I looked to the top of the piano and saw it sitting there waiting to be put on her head! Bless.

So I purchased this little hat back at the beginning of the year. I was at a great little gift shop in downtown Columbia looking for a baby gift for a friend and saw it sitting there and I purchased it. Originally thinking that Eliza Jane’s first birthday party would be pink and gold…it was perfect!

But then I changed the color…from gold to silver. Ha! Now what.

Well, remember that book of papers I’d purchased for the marquee “E”? Funny how things can be used in different/unintended ways!

I pulled out the sheet of silver paper and after a few nights of contemplating how to cut out a cone {I mean!!! geometry was NOT my strong suit!}, I cut out the cone. Then with my hot glue gun…turned that little bit of gold to silver!

The original plan of the hat was to also include a “1” but the husband thought it was too much, so we left the little hat as she was.

Here it is on the little birthday girl…with her frilly cake!

I feel like that was a lot of DIY in one post, but I promise nothing took very long at all to do. Let me know if you have any specific questions. From one craft-challenged mom to any others, “You can do it!”

One last thing, I’ve joined up with some fantastic ladies for a great give away this week – a pair of prints by Jenny Highsmith:Just follow the instructions in the rafflecopter below! The last day to enter is 9/4/15:a Rafflecopter giveaway

I had purchased these banner paper pads from the Recollections, um, collection at Michael’s.

After sorting through the various designs, I figured out the banner design and pattern. I laid everything out, counting my number of pennants for the “Happy” and “Birthday”. I had to play with it a few times to figure out which patterns I liked best, where.

Then I got out my silver glitter letters. I just realized I’ve not told y’all the “theme”! Well, there’s no real theme…just pink and silver/silver glitter with white. So here are my glitter letters. I mean, after all, every little girl needs glitter on her first birthday, right?! Right!

And I placed the letters accordingly. Y’all know it was harder than it looks. There’s all this placement consideration, especially where stripes are concerned…

So then I stacked both banners, in order of pennant, and stuck them in the birthday decor drawer in the dining room and it sat there until about two weekends ago.

I’ve decided over the last couple of years that any party or event we have at our home, where lots of decor things are needed, I dedicate a drawer in the buffet in our dining room to said decor. It’s made my life MUCH easier in being able to find everything for that event in one spot. I’ve done that for birthdays, Dana’s baby shower and our Welcome Summer party.

Here’s the drawer as it looks tonight!

Anyway, now that I’ve shown you some of the birthday decor secrets {shhh!!!}, back to the Birthday Banner!

So two weekends ago we had lunch at Bonefish for my father-in-law’s birthday…Reynolds was so excited about everything he refused to take a nap once we got home. Side note, who knows what it’s like to have a toddler who refuses a nap?!!?!?!?!?!? “Momma, I no take a nap” he kept saying, looking at the monitor on the wall. “Sister crying, Momma!!” Even though sister was passed.out. in her crib!

So finally I thought, he could help me, I’ll go get the little man.

He did help. He LOVES to climb on the stool. So I let him climb the stool, while I used a chair to hang the banner.

Please excuse the state of our home that day…Mr. Monkey had had a rough afternoon {laying at the foot of the stairs}. Ooop! There’s even a sneak peek at the mantle! ha!

The banner fell about 4 times – washi tape doesn’t hold anything really…and as much as I didn’t want to use push pins to hold it up, I had to.

So this is what you see upon coming up the steps to our home, and entering the foyer.

I can’t wait to show y’all the rest…stay tuned for tomorrow and the big day on Saturday!

It’s Wednesday. I’m at T minus 2 days to get this house in “Happy First Birthday Eliza Jane!!!!!” party mode. Between work this week {meetings! meetings! meetings!} and just being really tired {I’m already on caffeine/sugar overload!!}, there has been little time and little energy to do much of anything.

However, the party must go on!!!

Over the weekend, this past weekend, I got a lot done. I finished up the vignette over the mantle, decorated the dining room {everything that was not reachable by small hands that like to destroy!! what is UP with that?!!?!?!?}, and planned out other items.

Today I got a lot done, even though it didn’t really feel like it. I called my mom to find out what time she and my dad are planning on getting into town on Friday….need to get their room put back together, wash the sheets…you know, the usual guest room prep! I sent a text to my sweet photog friend, Jennifer, to confirm the time for her arrival as I’m hoping to get some sweet family shots before our guests start showing up on Saturday!

I also had to make a call to my baker today to order an extra dozen cupcakes because {thankfully!!} we have more guests coming than I thought would come {yay!}. Eliza Jane is so loved. I cannot wait for her big day.

Tonight I made my Party City run – and if you’re looking for 1st birthday party themed decor…they have it!

So I got the balloons ordered, other festive items were purchased and I picked up that crucial ‘1’ candle!!! And boy, was the candle wall at Party City overwhelming…

Tomorrow or Friday I will make my final grocery run where I’ll pick up all the goods for hotdogs and hamburgers. I’m trying to figure out if we need anything else like beans or coleslaw. Or if chips, chips and dip, and Cheetos are good? Anyone have a preference they’d like to share?

I think that’s it…I hope that’s it.

Either way, the party will happen and Eliza Jane will be ONE!! I really cannot believe it…

Have you ever planned lunch with a friend and then said to her, “Where do you want to go for lunch?” and then you carried a 10-15 minute conversation about the fact that neither of you REALLY cared about what KIND of food you ate, but no one would decide on WHERE to go?

Well, that happened to me today. I had planned to go to lunch with a co-worker friend and upon us both stating that our stomachs were growling {more like roaring}, we commenced the conversation about where we would go.

She suggested one place and then said she was craving Chinese.

“I don’t really care where we go…but I don’t know of a Chinese place around here.” I told her. She mentioned a hole in the wall that had a really original name {not really}, and once I told her I didn’t really have a preference…well, somehow we were left in the same predicament.

So off on a walk we went…destination unknown.

We got to Main Street in downtown Columbia and noted what restaurants lined the street.

Unsure of what we were really looking for, we kept walking. Stopping in a window to view a menu…where everything just seemed, well, normal…blah, I guess.

They legitimately had I think 8 things on the lunch menu…actually, I checked {and if you click over there you’ll see it} and I was right!

We looked at each other and kind of gave the “Eh, I guess we could eat here…?” look. Neither wanting to make the decision I guess…

She asked if there was anything on the menu that I would choose, “The Turkey & Brie or the PB&J…” I told her. Hey, I don’t get too crazy with my lunch options.

She got the Muffuletta Panini {I wouldn’t dare…} and I got the Turkey & Brie.

We sat outside and thanked the good Lord for a gorgeous day. Saw some friends walking down the street and talked about life.

Our food came…She thought her Muffuletta and olives were divine. She even dropped this huge red olive on the table after taking a bite and said, “Oh, my goodness!! This is so good, I’m going to wipe it off and eat the rest!” She kept offering me bites of her food, telling me how I was missing out…I totally forgot that she’s a food-sharer!! And I should have offered her some of mine!

We did talk about how I was going to blog about the place and our food, and how we should take a selfie. Really, we were being slightly silly at the time…or maybe it was just me.

Instead, she took a picture of me eating my Turkey & Brie. Let’s just say that I won’t be trying out for the Hardee’s burger-eating commercial. bahahaha. How can you look sexy/pretty/beautiful/NORMAL while eating a sandwich anyway?!

I hope you had a fun lunch today…if not, go somewhere unexpected tomorrow!

A few weeks ago some friends told me to take Reynolds to Snipits for his haircut. He’s a bit, um, dramatic when it comes to getting “his ears lowered”. The first time he went to Snipits, Andrew took him and he said R did great. “It was loud, kids music was playing, movies were on…lots of distractions.”

In the event that Eliza Jane would be just as crazy for her FIRST haircut, we decided that we would take her there as well.

Miss Jacquelynn was our stylist and she was so great with both kids {Reynolds ended up getting his hair cut after Eliza Jane}

I just love this one!!

I know I’m biased, but does she not have the sweetest little face?!

Reynolds did really great, cheering on his little sister…telling her she was doing a great job.

She really was totally calm. The puzzle probably helped some, but she was great! I loved this expression on her face!

“Whatchu lookin’ at?”

Enough already with the paparazzi.

“How do I look?”

Really all we did was shape up the back and sides of Eliza Jane’s hair. Somehow I have a massive head of hair, but neither of our kids do… So with her hair being on the thinner side {at least at this point in her life} I’m thinking a short bob will be a cute little style for her for now.

My review of Snipits is that it’s a great place to go if your kids are a little leery of getting their hair cut. All of the stylists were great with kids, extremely personable and fun. If your kids are comfortable with someone cutting their hair, go somewhere less expensive :) I did get the 1st time hair cut “package” for Eliza Jane, which included a certificate of bravery, a little baggie of her hair {sniff sniff} and a photo…

But with 2 haircuts, it was $41. YIKES!! For now, for us it might be worth it…emphasis on might… Eventually we will graduate out of this and R will go with his daddy to sport clips and Eliza Jane…well, she might just go with mommy to her stylist, Erin.

Good news is…if you refer a friend, you AND the friend get $5 off your next hair cut. So those of you who haven’t been, you’ve been referred! And then you can refer friends and reap the benefits as well!

What do you do about your kids’ haircuts? Do you cut their hair or go to a kids salon or a regular salon?

Heather had told me a few weeks ago that they host lunch every Friday and that I should check it out.

Well, I signed up for their weekly email to stay “in the know” and planned our lunch date with Andrew and the kids for this Friday.

When I got the weekly email this week I got REALLY excited. They had a new addition to the farm.

Raisin.

The cutest little pony you ever did see! I knew the kids, Reynolds especially, would love him!

He was terrified.

I think he was more scared of the big horse Jackson…who I adored…but later was told, is quite “ornery”.

We met the blind goat, “Do-We” and all his little {pregnant!} friends. Do-We is the one in the second picture down – the big tan one.

This one is affectionately called “Carol Burnett” because she is so loud!

We saw a brand new baby chick – freshly hatched over night! I was over the MOON about this!

The lady that owns this farm, Kathy, was just wonderful. She told Reynolds how to hold the little chick…and it all went great…

Even though we almost dropped the little guy!

Then we got to see a baby Guinea and hold a duckling! {Thanks for taking the pics, Heather!!! <3}

Next we saw the bunny rabbits, more chickens and goats.

Reynolds even tried “talking” to the goats! “Naaaaaaaaaah”

Heather had come over to the farm to give us the tour so she grabbed a bowl full of scraps and took us over to the pen where the baby pigs were so we could feed them. When they finally came running out…

Daddy made it just in time to finish the scraps so we said our good-byes to Heather, washed up at the hand washing station {the cutest!} and went in for a communal lunch.

I just loved this sign that leans up against the wall in the dining room.

After eating, we said our last round of good-byes to the animals

Ol’ Do-We had made his way into the trough…poor little blind goat that he is…with his side-kick right next to him.

But when I tell people that they act shocked, like I punched them in the gut or something. And it’s usually followed by “NO.WAY!” “I don’t believe you!” or something of the like.

I am what I am, people. You can’t change me.

I am by all accounts an Introvert.

My company does a 3-day, 6-city symposium every January and by the end of it I just want to be totally and completely alone…with earplugs…for days. People exhaust me. Totally. After I do that symposium I literally want to go hide in a cave for like, an entire day. Some of you might can relate to that.

So anyway, I decided that I would take this test to see if I still am in fact, an introvert.

I’m speechless.

When I did the Myers Briggs test about six years ago I was ISFJ = Introvert, Sensor, Feeler and Judger. Pretty accurate.

Today I got I-or-E, S, F-or-T, J.

What is happening!? WHO AM I?! I don’t even know ME anymore!!

My husband AND my kids AND my friends are having a really strange and STRONG impact on me. They have changed me…I am morphing into someone else…and I don’t even know her!

I am becoming more extroverted, less introverted {I really do blame this on the kids more than the hubs}. And more of a thinker than a feeler?!!?! {I blame this one on my j-o-b}

What in the world?!

I have to be honest, I was really surprised. I was confident in my introversion. Andrew, however, said “Just like I keep saying!” – He believes my introversion is a total facade.

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